Indonesia keeps second tennis singles a secret
Indonesia keeps second tennis singles a secret
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has picked Yayuk Basuki to play the
first-string singles in its Fed Cup play-off against Switzerland
next week, but is keeping the second singles place vacant.
Wimar Witoelar, chairman of the National Selection Tennis
Body, said yesterday that the second singles choice is up to
coach Suharyadi.
"The coach knows the Swiss players best and who among our
prodigies match them," Wimar said. "The second singles will be a
surprise for both spectators and the press."
World number 25 Yayuk, Romana Tedjakusuma, and juniors Wynne
Prakusya and Liza Andriyani will again line up the national team
for the Switzerland challenge. Indonesia suffered a 0-5 rout by
Belgium at the Fed Cup first-round match here in April.
"Either Romana, Wynne or Liza can serve as the backup singles
player. They have all made both physical and technical progress
since they lost to Belgium," Wimar said.
Wimar made it clear that Yayuk and Romana will team up for the
doubles match. The Asia Championship winners have qualified for
the Atlanta Olympic Games later this month.
The squad will start training here tomorrow.
Wynne will take leave from her overseas stint in the Czech
Republic for the Fed Cup match. She took part in some clay court
tournaments in Europe.
Liza, who is now playing in the Wimbledon Junior, warmed up
for next week's match in some junior tournaments in Belgium,
Germany and England and several satellite tournaments in the
United States.
Romana, who has completed her studies in Louisiana, is the
only player who skipped tournaments. She has been staying in her
hometown of Surabaya, East Java, for a physical training program.
"Romana is an Olympic doubles standard player," Wimar said.
Crucial
The Fed Cup match next week is crucial to Indonesia. If it
loses to Switzerland, Indonesia will descend to the Asia Pacific
qualifying zone next year.
"Technically, we are better than the Swiss," Wimar said.
The Swiss team will bring world number 18 Martina Hingis,
Patty Schnyder, Emanuela Zardo and Angela Burgis. They are
expected to arrive on Tuesday.
Hingis, 15, is fresh from her Wimbledon campaign, reaching the
fourth round where she lost to top seed Steffi Graf.
This year luck was not with Yayuk, who make a first-round exit
for the first time ever. However, she advanced to the
quarterfinals in the doubles with Caroline Vis of the
Netherlands.
The Indonesian Tennis Association plans to hold a fans
gathering with Hingis and Yayuk.
The gathering will be limited to 150 persons who will receive
free tickets and lucky draws.
The association will also sell double tickets worth Rp 500,000
(US$210) each, which include a sit-down dinner with the tennis
players at the Hilton on July 11. (yan)